Henry H. Perritt, Jr.

It vindicates the success of an imperfect UN-administered interim government to build a sustainable democracy. Independence and its broad international recognition resolve the last piece of unfinished business from the bloody breakup of Yugoslavia, although much remains yet to be done to guide independent Kosovo toward prosperity and a stable rule of law.

Kosovo’s declaration of independence and recognition by other states is the way new states traditionally have been recognized, under international law. It is, indeed, precisely the way the United States became independent 230 years ago. Arguments that independence violates international law are wrong.

Serbia forfeited its sovereignty over Kosovo through its brutal treatment of the population ten years ago, which drove nearly 80 percent of the local population from their homes. Now, Russia and Serbia are frantically searching for ways to discredit this example of self determination and international cooperation. Whether they succeed is, in the long run, up to the peoples of Kosovo, especially the Kosovar Albanians.

In this regard, the Republic of Kosovo can learn lessons from decades of Serb racism, unfortunately encouraged by Serbian centers of religion and intellectual discourse. Kosovo’s religious and intellectual communities should take the lead in promoting tolerance and conciliation. Kosovo’s Serbs are no threat to the future of independent Kosovo. There are not enough of them. It’s not like the 1990s when Kosovo’s Serbs had the upper hand. There is no pragmatic reason to mistreat them; on the contrary there are many pragmatic reasons to treat them well, to make it clear to them and to the rest of the world that Kosovo can govern all its communities better than Serbia governed them.

The challenge in the months going forward is whether Kosovo’s government can govern. Past governments did not really govern; for them, the lack of final status was an excuse for inaction, incompetence and corruption. Public office was not an opportunity to make tough decisions, to solve problems, to educate the public; it was instead an opportunity to use public resources to reward family, friends and political allies.

Prime Minister Thaçi is off to a great start. I have had many conversations with him over the past ten years. I know how eager he has been to acquire the best skills of political leadership and how much he wanted the opportunity to lead his country. He tried, once before, through his leadership of the interim government after the war, but he was thwarted by the internationals and by the Kosovar Albanian political elite who said that “he should go to school.” He has gone to school and he’s ready now.

Skeptics about Kosovo’s future, both outside and inside Kosovo, should follow his lead on ethnic tolerance.

Mr. Perritt is Professor of Law at the Chicago-Kent College of Law. He is author of the upcoming book Kosovo Liberation Army: The Inside Story of an Insurgency.

Comments (8)

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Merita Limani said:

This is a great article. I know Profesor Perrit personally and i think he is a very good person. Also, some of you mentioned that he doesn't have a good knowledge of Balkan history, in particular Serbia and Kosovo; well my dear coleaugues, he knows Balkans history better than you can imagine. Profesor Perrit, thank you for this great article and for everything that you have done to support the justice and human rights. Best Regards to you

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March 05, 2008
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PROUD TO BE A KOSOVAR said:

	Ron, Please do your self a favoure and read some history books that will help you realize that what you are saying is nonsence. Your e.g with MEXICO is not the same as KOSOVA and Serbia ....
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February 26, 2008
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Serggio said:

Lets compare Bosnia and Kosovo and Metohija. War in Bosnia last for 4 years. War in Kosovo and Metohija last, lets say 2. 200.000 died in Bosnia. Milions removed from home, but after few years, they are more or less all returned. How many died in Kosovo and Metohija? 10.000? Lets say 20.000. 800.000 people left the homes when the NATO campaign start, and they all returned after few months. Devastation in Bosnia is not comparable with anything and anywhere in Kosovo and Metohija. Bosnia was devastated at larger scale, and all sides had very heavy armory, so all sides could do more damage. There was a genocide in Bosnia. There was no genocide in Kosovo and Metohija. Eight years after the war, 2003, Bosnia is democratic country with multi ethnic parlament, stable economy, rule of law, etc... Eight years after the war, 2007, Kosovo cant repair power plants and does not have enough electricity, it have ethnic based violence (shooting kids swimming in the river, burning 14th century churches, beating old man and womens, etc...), have no industry, have biggest unemployment in Europe, crime and coruption everywhere and imports everything it needs. And now, after all this FACTS, tell me, why Kosovo and Metohija needs independence, and war sides in Bosnia dont?

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February 26, 2008
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Ron said:

I do have a clue and not only have I been to this region of the country, I have friends from both sides of the story. Including people who are still there. So don't tell me that I don't know what I'm talking about. If you would look at your history books, maybe then you will begin to understand what is happening there. I will no longer waste my time here. This is a huge mistake and hopefully the truth will come out to light. You are the people who have no clue.

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February 25, 2008
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Doce said:

	Ron, I'll give you a better analogy because you seem to be a little off. If the U.S. goes to Puerto Rico, kills 10,000 people and deports half the population to the neighboring islands, I'd say Puerto Rico has a right to independence. Don't forget the details when you make your analogies because they are very poor arguments.
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February 23, 2008
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Antonela said:

Ron, I would advise you to google Prof. Perritt's name and see what kind of information comes up. After doing that, you will realize that he is much more knowledgable about what is happening in Kosova then you give him credit for. This is a wonderful article focusing on the present and future of the region not its long gone past. I am Albanian, yet I have never hated a Serbian person for simply being Serbian. It is not his/her fault that the respective governments choose to villify one another in order to achieve their political goals. It is time for Serbians and Albanians to realize that they are not so different after all. Kosovo and Serbia need to put their violent past behind them and look forward to a future of cooperation and diplomacy, so that each one can achieve its goals of becoming integrated into the larger European family. Achieving cooperation is not going to be easy, but unless both sides begin to settle down, it may never happen.

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February 22, 2008
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Ron said:

How can someone have such a heavy opinion on something that they don't understand? This is a huge mistake. The US and other Western nations are now supporting the wrong side. Since Albanians took over Serbian holy land, they have made it the number one center for drugs in Europe. For example only: If Mexicans outnumber US citizens in Texas and then say that Texas is now a part of Mexico. Would that go over well? If they started killing police, what is the first step that will happen in any country? The military will be brought in. What the Serbs are guilty of is not having a tough policy for immigrants. There were over 21 different ethnic groups living in that area prior to any of this. They were all living in harmony. That is until Albanians decided to make an attempt at taking over the country for their own. So Mr. Perritt, find out the facts before you write a story.

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February 22, 2008
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Vedat Ibrahimi said:

I couldn't agree more, the responsibility now lies in the hands of the Republic of Kosova and it's people and leadership to maintain it's ties and strengthen these with the Kosovar Serbs. They are indeed a huge key to a successful future for Kosova. The biggest obstacle to this is in my opinion the provocations and attacks coming from Belgrade instantly. If Kosova manges to turn the Kosovar Serbs towards Prishtina, we will prevail and build a stable Kosova I must congratulate on an excellent analysis of the situation and the road ahead, hope to see more coming!

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February 22, 2008
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